Windsor

Police Warn Of Counterfeit Money

The Ontario Provincial Police is warning residents about counterfeit money making the rounds.

So far this year, police have reported at least 82 instances where fake bills were used in the OPP West Region alone. These include Canadian and U.S. bills ranging in denomination from $5 to $100.

An information campaign has been put in place by the OPP, along with the RCMP and the Bank of Canada, to help people recognize fake money and explain what to do when they see it. The RCMP reports over 17,000 counterfeit Canadian banknotes were passed in 2016.

For those who handle cash at a business the OPP suggests the following:

  • Be careful during busy periods, when fake money is more likely to be passed.
  • Watch out for customers who want to pay with a much higher denomination than needed for the purchase.
  • If you receive a banknote that looks suspicious, be sure to note as much relevant information about it and the person as possible.
  • Contact your local police service or the OPP.
  • Turn the suspicious banknote over to the police and ask for a receipt. The bill will be returned to you if it is real.
  • Someone paying with a counterfeit banknote may not be aware it is fake. They could also be a victim of crime and not know it.
The OPP says even with the latest technology, it is impossible to reproduce an exact copy of a genuine banknote. Remember the saying "good money looks good, bad money looks bad".

For more on security features for Canadian banknotes, click here.

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